Kazakhstan men's tennis team captain Dias Doskaraev spoke at a pre-match press conference in Astana about the team's preparations for the Davis Cup World Group II play-off against Thailand, infohub.kz reports.
According to Doskaraev, Kazakhstan is aiming for victory and a return to the elite of world tennis. The captain stressed that the team takes the opponent seriously and does not expect an easy contest.
One of the main topics of the press conference was the absence of Alexander Bublik from the squad. Doskaraev explained that when forming the team, not only the objectives of the upcoming match were considered, but also the long-term prospects of the national team.
"We are counting on Timofey Skatov and hope that he will continue his successful run for the national team. If Alexander Bublik had been included in the squad, he would certainly have played in this tie, but in that case Timofey Skatov's opportunities to play singles would have been limited. We must think not only about one specific match, but also about the future of the national team," Doskaraev explained.
The captain also said that Alexander Shevchenko and Timofey Skatov are being considered for the singles matches. The final decision on the lineup will be made closer to the start of the tie.
Recall that the Kazakhstan–Thailand match will take place on September 18–19 in Astana at the courts of the Beeline Arena National Tennis Center. The Kazakh team includes Alexander Shevchenko, Denis Yevseyev, Timofey Skatov, Beibit Zhukayev, and Amir Omarkhanov.
The winner of the tie will earn the right to play in Davis Cup World Group I.